Most people, when they undertake weight related lifestyle changes, measure success by the scale.
How many pounds did I lose this week? This month? This year?
Of course many of those same people, when they started making changes, were regularly gaining weight. Not necessarily massive amounts, but perhaps somewhere between 1-10lbs annually, which over time, adds up.
Now lifestyle change is difficult, and many people don't feel like they've succeeded.
The thing is, I wonder how success is being defined. If the only definable success is a dramatic loss, sure, a great many folks are going to get disappointed, quit their changes, and once again start their slow marches up.
On the other hand, if folks recognized the value of simply not gaining, maybe, just maybe, we'd see our ever increasing obesity rates, begin to level off. And who knows? Perhaps, over time, as a person gets more and more comfortable with their changes, then slowly, but surely, they'll start losing too.
I guess what I'm trying to say is - don't underestimate the value of simply not gaining.
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I remember having this conversation quite a while ago with a leading obesity researcher. He clearly had forgotten the value of not gaining, if in fact he had ever realized it at all.
ReplyDeleteAnother good post, Yoni!
Measuring self defined success is critical, in my view. But I think until weight is removed as the defining value for success, that permanent fundamental eating and food choice change is more likely not to occur.
ReplyDeleteEating healthfully needs to be evaluated as successful in the milieu of affordable and available acceptable foods, the ability to eat those foods in a culturally acceptable way, and in settings that are congruent with healthful eating - e.g. with family, friends, coworkers, etc. where eating is not rushed (a la fast food drive through), the food can be prepared and stored healthfully (refrigeration/heating is available) and supports are built into eating to promulgate healthful choices (fresh whole foods availability/processed foods are not evident without extra work to procure them).
With those parameters changed, the healthful food choices should default to being easiest and most desirable, and the weight change should begin to take care of itself, while nutrient intake should rise concomitantly. There should also be secondary benefits: lower stress levels around eating and food choices, more satisfaction around eating, more energy available for work/study/leisure, better cognition and attention, and better sleep.
I'm sure I'm not accounting for all of the variables underlying healthful eating, but the gist is that success is a multi-variable thing and shouldn't rely on a single factor which isn't directly indicative of healthful eating.
I couldn't agree more.
ReplyDeleteMany a pound was gained by people who gave up their draconian, untenable diets because the weight wasn't dropping off fast enough.
Sometimes, eating (mainly) health foods in moderation, and engaging in regular, moderate physical activity are actually the best solution by far.
Excellent Yoni! Also consider that most of the health problems seem to stem from a chronic state of overnutrition - topping off the storage bins so to speak.
ReplyDelete